Development of sustainable energy systems: a new challenge for Process Systems Engineering Education
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| 18th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering – ESCAPE 18 Bertrand Braunschweig and Xavier Joulia (Editors) © 2008 Elsevier B.V./Ltd. All rights reserved.
Development of sustainable energy systems: a new challenge for Process Systems Engineering Education Catherine Azzaro-Pantela, Christophe Gourdona, Xavier Jouliaa, Jean-Marc Le Lanna, Stéphan Astierb, Guillaume Fontesb, Maria Davidb, Alain Ayachec
This paper presents the main features of the master-level programme in “EcoEnergy” offered as a full-time one year course at “Institut National Polytechnique of Toulouse” in order to provide engineers with a state-of-the-art education in the area of advanced energy technologies and systems. It is based on an original and equilibrated combination of process systems engineering and electrical engineering disciplines, with an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach necessary for identifying sustainable solutions in the energy sector. More precisely, the students learn how to design, develop and implement energy systems and technologies in various industrial sectors for which efficient management of energy issues is vital to remain competitive. Keywords: Sustainable development-Energy-Process Systems Engineering-Electrical Engineering 1.Motivation The main development of sustainable energy system solutions constitutes a real challenge as a result of the global warming problem together with depletion of fossil fuel resources. In that context, there is a clear need to educate engineers who can respond to these challenges. Chemical engineering, along with other disciplines, needs to focus on the sustainability of its activities by considering factors beyond the traditional process, product, or enterprise. This constitutes an important technical challenge to the engineering community. Among all the specialities of chemical engineering, process systems engineering (PSE) is perhaps best positioned to address the challenges of sustainability, since PSE adopts a holistic or systems view, which is essential for understanding and modelling the complex interactions between industry, society and ecosystems. Such methods will become increasingly important for both new and existing technologies at all stages of their research, development, and use. This presents unprecedented challenges and exciting opportunities for PSE to play a crucial role in the quest for sustainable energy systems. It must be emphasized that traditional course programmes (MSc or Engineer level) are generally based on either environmental engineering for quantifying environmental impacts, or on energetic topics involving mainly thermal energetic processes, or on electrical engineering with electricity-oriented energetic processes, or on chemical and process engineering focused on mass and energy transformation. On the one hand, electricity exhibits a lot of assets for an improved penetration of energy sectors, due to its low direct emissions, high efficiency and flexibility and also as a favoured vector for renewable and nuclear sources. On the other hand, processes are inherently involved in mass and energy transformations, in energy production and storage and for the treatment of fossil or renewable fuels. In that context, the aim of the master-level programme in “EcoEnergy” offered as a full-time one year course at “Institut National Polytechnique of Toulouse” is to provide engineers with a state-of-the-art education in the area of advanced energy technologies and systems. The key feature of the programme is based on an original and equilibrated combination of process systems engineering and electrical engineering disciplines, based on an interdisciplinary problem-solving approach necessary for identifying sustainable solutions in the energy sector. The fuel cell example inherently illustrates the motivation to use and combine concepts of both disciplines to cover the chain of electricity production (mainly electrical engineering oriented) from a portfolio of various sustainable process alternatives (mainly process systems engineering oriented).
Fig. 1 The fuel cell example: the core of an energy portfolio mixing electrical engineering and process systems engineering disciplines More generally, the students learn how to design, develop and implement energy systems and technologies in various industrial sectors for which efficient management of energy issues is vital to remain competitive. The assessment of both current and potential future energy systems is covered and includes topics on resources, extraction, conversion, and end-use, with emphasis on energy needs in the 21st century in a sustainable manner. Different renewable and conventional energy technologies are presented and their attributes described within a framework that aids in evaluation and analysis of energy technology systems. The remaining sections of the paper present the learning objectives, the teaching strategy, the state of development and career opportunities of the “EcoEnergy” programme. 2.Learning objectives A first motivation of the “EcoEnergy” programme was to practice an interdisciplinary approach between two engineering disciplines, namely Process Systems Engineering and Electrical Engineering to tackle the sustainable energy issue. For this purpose, a prerequisite was to provide the students with the key subjects of both disciplines that are typically relevant with the specific energy subjects that will be the core of the programme. Of course, the chemical process engineering students will not become specialists of electrical engineering and, conversely. The integrated prerequisite subjects are presented in Fig. 2. Let us mention that this period is strongly interconnected to the other common courses so that the students can be mixed as earlier as possible to favour interdisciplinary dialogue. Since this programme may be accessible from students of other disciplines (e.g. fluid mechanics or biochemical engineering), the courses are not arranged in parallel. 
Fig. 2: Prerequisite for the Ecoenergy programme The programme is then based on a 3 components-based platform:
These underlying objectives can be revisited to give an energy-centred organization: the program builds upon 7 compulsory core courses (see Table 1) (27 ECTS credit units in all). The other ECTS credit units are assigned to English and industrial training periods. 
Table 1: Course organization in EcoEnergy programme 3.Teaching/learning strategy One of the drivers of the programme was to develop teaching/learning methods and strategies closely mixing academic/industry professionals combining lectures, seminars, computer-based work, practical experimental work and projects…. Thematic seminars on energy are organized one day a week to favour industrial involvement in the programme. Let us mention that an industrial partnership was initiated at the preliminary design phase of the programme (CEA, IFP, GDF …). Although these seminars are devoted to the presentation of specific topics on energy such as CO2 process treatments and sequestration (IFP), hydrogen as a future energy vector (CEA), nuclear energy (CEA), gas networks (GDF), wind energy (EdF Energies Nouvelles) and so on…, a large place is given to debate in order to strengthen students’ oral communication skills on the given topic. Groups of students have to write alternately a report on these seminars in English and diffuse it rapidly both to the class and to the pedagogical team. The validation of the course module is carried out by Case Study Projects referred as CSP performed by multidisciplinary student teams (3 or 4). Their detailed presentation can be found at http://www.ensiacet.fr. A lot of courses are computer-intensive (Bond Graph, heat integration scenarios performed with ProSim simulator): a typical example is provided in a companion paper with the MULTIGEN environment applied to the thermo-economic optimization of a gas turbine using natural gas as a fuel. A practical case study concerns the fuel cell application: two complementary methodologies of experimental characterization are carried out, dynamic plot of fuel cell voltage as a function of current density and impedance spectroscopy. This experimental part then leads to the parameter identification of a PEM fuel cell. The behaviour of the PEM fuel cell performance is then studied as a function of disturbance generated by connected static converters. 
Fig.2: Pedagogical strategy in the EcoEnergy programme A more general case study project (approximately 60 h) is also proposed to multidisciplinary student teams. The project subject is submitted in the second month of the programme to facilitate literature analysis (4 h every two weeks) and a progressive knowledge of the subject. Then, an intensive period is scheduled so that they can concentrate their attention to the technical choices and design phase. Industrial partners are involved in the definition of the subjects. For the sake of illustration, let us mention 3 projects treated by student teams in 2006-07:
The industrial period (4-6 months) is the opportunity for students to apply and further develop the skills acquired in the technology of their programme during a placement in an energy company or a research centre. A tutor from the host company supervises and guides the student during project work, while a second supervisor from the university will supervise the evolution of this period. Typical industrials projects (2006-07) are:
4.State of development The EcoEnergy programme opens in 2006-07 with 15 students (11 students from electrical engineering, ENSEEIHT, INPT, 4 from ENSIACET INPT). In 2007-08, 21 students attend this programme (8 students from electrical engineering, ENSEEIHT, INPT, 13 from ENSIACET INPT (mainly from process systems engineering department), 1 ERASMUS student from Germany. In parallel, a New Energy Technology Mastere (from “Conférence des Grandes Ecoles” was created in 2007 with the same pedagogical objectives (even if the form may be a little different) and 3 engineers from industry joined this programme. 5.Career opportunities and conclusions The EcoEnergy programme is designed to deliver qualified engineers equipped with the latest skills and the right experience for a successful career in the energy industry. Of course, many traditional energy industry sectors are likely to recruit students graduating from this programme: this is all the more important as companies have to integrate sustainable considerations in their activities and as issues surrounding the role of energy extend far beyond the energy sector, since energy use is integral to many chemical and process activities. The concepts developed find here a logical application. Yet not surprisingly, the renewable energy industry seems very attractive to offer motivating career opportunities. As reported by EUREC, the European renewable energy (RE) industry is today one of the fastest growing industry sectors in the EU. New research, industrial and craft jobs appear directly in R&D, production, installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems. Backward linkages to other sectors triggering demand for technical RE expertise exist for consultancies (local, departmental or regional communities in France, for instance). According to EUREC, over 1 million jobs for the Renewable Energy sector are likely to be created by 2010, a number that is to double for the new Renewable Energy sector target of 20% by 2020. Since this programme experience is recent, it is impossible to give reliable statistics on student placement in industry. They all find jobs related to the energy sector, covering the wide spectrum of abovementioned jobs (both in traditional and renewable energy sectors). Let us only say that we have collected a good appreciation of the students on the programme. Only minor corrections were brought to the second edition. The participating industrial partners are convinced of the interest of such an energy programme education, which is a breeding ground for innovation in energy sectors. We hope that Process Systems Engineers will have many new and exciting work opportunities in the RE sector and that the “EcoEnergy” programme by the balanced mix of theoretical and practical courses optimally prepares graduating engineers for jobs in the energy industry. References J. W. Tester, E. M. Drake, M. J. Driscoll, M. W. Golay and W. A. Peters, 2005, Sustainable Energy Choosing Among Options, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, ISBN: 0262201534. http://www.ensiacet.fr/Web_A7/ENSIA7_FR/FORMATION/INGENIEUR/OPTION/ecoe.shtml http://www.shell.com/home/content/eco-marathon-en/welcome_global.html European Renewable Energy Council EUREC: “Renewable Energy Target for Europe”, January 2004, Brussels. See www.erec-renewables.org for details Yüklə 29,74 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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